Best Brooklyn Playgrounds
Playgrounds are our finest amenity in this city, and I have so many fond memories of my children. These are my top five with a few anecdotes about the best places based on age group.
Main Street Playground @ Brooklyn Bridge Park aka Pirate Ship Playground | Dumbo
This playground has a lot of unique features that make it stand out to my children. The deep sandpit is super fun. The long-running paths are great for tag. There’s a nice water feature and a tire swing. My only caution is that his one gets very hot during the summer; there is not much shade at all.
Fort Greene Playground | Fort Greene
When I say Fort Greene Playground- I mean the one at the North end of Fort Greene Park near Willoughby (there is a smaller tot lot towards the South end). Fort Greene Playground has some especially nice features for older children. They have a good array of monkey bars, and the fort “towers” are fun to camp out and play secret games in. The baby swings and water feature make this a great addition for children of all ages.
Domino Park Playground | Williamsburg
First off, I do not recommend this playground for younger children. It’s even a bit challenging for my four-year-old boy at this point. The towers are obscured and very busy. Now, if you have a child to be out of sight for a while, this playground is a real winner. Its best features are the climbing apparatus and views. It does get quite windy and crowded- plan accordingly!
Pier 6 Playground @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
Pier 6 Playground is really an assortment of 3 areas- Water Lab, Swing Valley, and Slide Hill. The Water Lab section is probably the best water playground in Brooklyn, and it brings crowds to match accordingly. Slide Hill has one long slide and a great sand pit but does get quite hot in the summer months. Swing Valley is a bit hidden and is a relaxing oasis. The baby swings and sand pit can be great for younger children if you’re comfortable with those options.
James A Forten Playground aka Underhill Playground aka Toy Playground | Prospect Heights
I’m definitely biased towards this one since it’s my default playground. It’s nice they have two sections of climbing depending on age, and there is a little something for everyone here- slides, swings, and a tire swing. The toys that this playground is known for really add an imaginative play element to everything here. The number of items that become dinner or a play kitchen go on forever. The discarded walkers are a great option for younger kids and the baby swings of course are a great default.
Best Playgrounds for Children who Can’t Walk | Playgrounds for those children under 18 Months
Pier 6 Playground - Because of the sand pit and baby swings, you have great places to plop a young child and let them watch the world. I wouldn’t plan on the water lab with a baby, as it gets so crowded with older children running around.
Garfield Tot Lot - Because this playground is small, a younger baby won’t get run over by an older child running around. There are also some cushions on the ground for those knees and bums, which can be scratched.
Best Playgrounds for Two to Four Year Olds | Playgrounds for Preschoolers
Underhill Playground- In my experience, this age group loves the toys left at Underhill. Sure, the slides and swings are great, but the toys and imaginative play are a mecca.
Zucker Exploration Playground @ Prospect Park- This is not your conventional playground; it's set up with all the options from the park around us. Because children at this age area are starting to be curious and explore independently, I love this playground for that reason.
Best Playground for Five to Seven Year Olds | Best Playgrounds for Elementary School Children
Fort Greene Playground- The forts here really make the experience. My seven-year-old daughter loves to hide up here with her friends and make some passcode. They also get onto the monkey bars and climb above.
Domino Park Playground- Kids at this age have earned a little bit more trust and can hide up top. The nets are really fun to climb here and I’d advise meeting up with friends if you’re headed here- the crowds can be intimidating solo and it’s hard for parents to follow.
My oldest child is seven so I can’t give a recommendation for older than that. Stay tuned for more advice for the older ones.